Otis e



o. E. DUBOIS..

DICE BOX.

Patented Oct. 5,1897.

(N M del) UNITED FrrATns` PATENT @lirica OTIS E. DUBOIS, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES II. CARR, OF SAME PLACE.

DICE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 591,269, dated October 5, 1897.

application nea July 6,1897. serial No. 643,603. (No model.)

To MZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, 'OTIs E. DUBOIS, of Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Dice-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a dice-box or game apparatus in which dice are used, or similar objects having dierentcharacters on different portions thereof, so that dierent results are shown when they fall in different positions.

The object of the invention is to completely inclose the dice, so that they cannot be tampered with, and at `thesame time to so ar.

range the dice-box that by inverting the same the dice will fall and in falling will be caused to turn by meeting with obstructions.

In carrying out the invention the body of the box is made in the form of a casing or tube of transparent material, such as glass, so that the dice contained therein can be seen through the same, and the ends of the tubular body are adapted to be" closed by end pieces of suitable material, such as Wood, the said pieces being so shaped that each will form a suitablebase or support, whereby the box can be stood up on one end or the other, the dice then gravitating toward the end which is below and whichthen constitutes a support for the said dice, which are read by observing them through the transparent body of the box. The two end pieces are secured together and to the tubular body by means of a rod extending longitudinally through the said body, the said rod having transverse arms or projections adapted to engage the dice as they fall through the tube, so that the said dice will be turned over in their descent.

Figure l is a side elevation of adice-box embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation thereof, the body and ends of the box being shown in section and the tubular connecting member and its projections being shown in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon the line @c3-of Fig. 1. Q

The tubular body a, which is preferably a glass tube open at both ends, is adapted to receive and inclose the dice A, and is provided at each end with an inclosing member b, the said inclosing members, as shown, being preferably made of wood and having their inner portions h2 shaped to fit the ends of the tube, as shown, the said tube, after the portions b2 are inserted therein, engaging the shoulders bs, so that the tube is closed, the previously-inserted dice bein g visible through the transparent body a. Each of the portions may be enlarged, as shown, at their outer ends, so as to afford a standard or base for the box, so that to play the dice it is necessary only to invert the box as it stands on one end and stand it on the other, the dice falling when the box Vis inverted.

To insure the turning of the dice as they fall, the box is provided with a longitudinal rod c, extending from one end thereof to the other, the said rod having at intervals along the same arms or projections c2, extending therefrom at different angles, as shown, the lateral distance between the successive rods being somewhat less than the dimensions of the dice, so that the dice in falling Will strike the said rods and be deflected or thrown from one to another thereof and therefore cannot fail to be turned from their original position as they travel from one end of the box to the other. The said arms or projections c2 are shown as extending substantially to the Wall of the body a and preferably consist of small rods which are passed through transverse openings in the rod c, there being no necessity for any fastening device therefor, since they extend completely across the body a, so that after the box is assembled they cannot move to any extent longitudinally, owing to the proximity of their ends to the walls of the .body af The said rod c is also shown as constituting a locking or fastening device whereby all of the parts of the box are held assembled, the said rod being shown as provided at its ends with screw-threads c3, adapted to screw into the end pieces b, respectively. To assemble the box, therefore, one end of the rod c is screwed into one of the pieces l?, the cross-rods c"l inserted in their openings, and the body ct then placed in position so that one end of it rests upon the shoulders Z13. The dice are then put into the box and the other IOO end portion b screwed onto the other end of the rod c3 until the shoulders b3 thereof bring up against the opposite ends of the body a, the box then being complete and closed with the dice inside ready for use.

In the use of a dice-box constructed in aecordance with this invention it is impossible to handle or otherwise tamper with the dice, while the construction and arrangement of the box is simple and inexpensive.

I claiml. As an article of manufacture, a dice-box having a transparent body closed at its ends by pieces of material each shaped to afford a base or support for the box when stood on end, and a rod extending longitudinally through the body of the box from one end thereof to the other and provided with transverse projections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a dice-box, the combination with a tubular body of transparent material, of an end portion adapted to close each end of said tubular body and aiord a base or support for the box, a rod connected at its ends to said end portions and extending longitudinally through the body, whereby said end portions and said body are held together, and transverse arms 01 projections from said rod extending substantially to the inner wall of the body, substantially as described.

3. In a dice-box, the combination with a tubular body a of transparent material, of the ends or base portions b adapted to close the ends of said tubular body, the rod c extend ing longitudinally through said body and provided at its ends with screw-threads to respectively engage the base portions b, and transverse rods c2 secured in transverse openings in the rod c, the said rods c2 being set at an angle to eaeh other and adapted to extend substantially across from one side of the body to the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speeilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTIS E. DUBOIS.

Witnesses:

RICHARD P. BoRDEN, DAVID II. SLADE. 

